The commentaries of M. John Calvin upon the Acts of the Apostles, faithfully translated…The commentaries of M. Iohn Caluin vpon the Actes of the Apostles, faithfully translated…

Certain exorcists. I do not doubt but that this office did proceed of foolish emulation. God was wont to exercise his power diverse ways among the Jews: and he had used the Prophets in times past as ministers to drive away devils: under colour hereof they invented conjuration, and hereupon was erected unadvisedly an extraordinary function without the commandment of God. Also it may be that (God appointing it so to be) it did somewhat: not that he favoured it preposterously, but that they might more willingly retain the religion of their fathers until the coming of Christ. Under the reign of Christ, wicked ambition caused strife between the Christians and the Jews. For exorcists were made after the will of men: after that (as superstition doeth always wax worse and worse) the Pope would have this common to all his Clerks, who were to be promoted unto an higher degree. For after that they be made doorkeepers, forthwith the conjuring of devils is committed to them: and by very experience they set themselves to be laughed at. For they are in forced to confess that they give a vain title, and such as is without effect, for where is the power they have to conjure devils: and the very exorcists themselves do take upon them to their own reproach, an office which they never put in practice. But this falleth out justly, that there is no end of erring, when men depart from the word of God. As touching these men we gather that they were wandering rogues and such as went from door to door, of which sort we see many at this day in popery: for he saith that they went about. By which words he giveth us to understand that they went to and fro as occasion was offered them to deceive men.

Certaine exorcists. I doe not doubt but that this office did proceed of foolish emulation. God was wont to exercise his power diuerse wayes among the Iewes: and he had vsed the Prophetes in times past as ministers to driue away diuels: vnder colour hereof they inuented coniuration, and hereuppon was erected vnaduisedly an extraordinarie function without the commaundement of God. Also it may be that (God appointing it so to be) it did somewhat: not that he fauoured it preposterously, but that they might more willingly retaine the religion of their fathers vntil the comming of Christ. Vnder the reigne of Christ, wicked ambition caused strife betweene the Christians and the Iewes. For exorcists were made after the will of men: after that (as supestition doeth alwayes waxe worse and worse) the Pope woulde haue this common to all his Clarkes, who were to be promoted vnto an higher degree. For after that they be made doorekepers, forthwith the coniuring of diuels is committed to them: and by verie experience they set themselues to be laught at. For they are in forced to confesse that they giue a vaine title, and such as is without effect, for where is the power they haue to coniure diuels: and the very exorcists themselues do take vpon them to their owne reproch, an office which they neuer put in practice. But this falleth out iustly, that there is no end of erring, when men depart from the word of God. As touching these men we gather that they were wandering roges and such as went from dore to dore, of which sort wee see many at this day in poperie: for he saith that they went about. By which words he giueth vs to vnderstand that they went to and fro as occasion was offered them to deceiue men.